By Our Correspondent
JODA/KOIRA: The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has expressed serious concern over the increasing pollution in Joda-Barbil-Koira regions of Odisha’s mineral rich Keonjhar and Sundargarh district in view of mining activities and lack of proper remedies taken up by the Mines Companies has created a grave situation.
NEERI, a part of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is a research institute created and funded by the Centre and set up in Nagpur in 1958 with focuses on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases. This pioneer laboratory in the field of environmental science and engineering has 5 Zonal laboratories at Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Mines Companies working in these two mineral bearing districts of Odisha have crossed all its limits and various pollution control norms have been openly violated. Keeping this in mind, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute will set up near about 5 pollution measuring centres by March 31, 2020. Such pollution checking centres were proposed to be set up at Keonjhar town, near Bansapal-Suakati road, Nayagad, Bileipada and Nalda Road, sources said on Friday.
Tata Steel has set up a pollution checking centre at Joda East; OMC has set up one at Bhadrasahi; SAIL has one near Karo river; Sirajuddin & Company Pvt Ltd has set up one at Bamebari; RP Sao –TP Sao & Sons has set up one at Guali; KJS Ahluwalia Mines Pvt Ltd at Barbil. However, State Pollution Control Board sources said 5 more such centres will be put in place at pollution sensitive areas.
Pollution level is high in the ambient air which has affected life. “There is a need for water sprinkling on the roads leading to mines, massive plantation drive and other measure to bring down pollution,” said Puskar Behera, regional officer of the SPCB.
Behera further added that mineral transporters have been asked to carry minerals under the cover of tarpaulin sheets while lease holders have been asked to check pollution and repair roads that are in bad shape.
Locals however alleged that the officials of State Pollution Control Board posted in Joda, Barbil and Koira ranges are not monitoring pollution by mining, transportation and industrial Units. They alleged that pollution has emerged as a major problem in the district, hampering development and causing suffocation in mining pockets. In the past, locals have protested pollution alongside roads due to transportation.
This apart, many Mines Companies have violated pollution control act of 1986, air pollution control act of 1981, water pollution control act of 1974 and forest rights act of 1980.Companies were supposed to extract mining with clearance of air and water pollution control under various acts like Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and consent to operate under the Water (PCP) Act, 1974 and Air (PCP) Act, 1981.
These firms have been violating forest and wildlife laws .The Company, which is also creating air and water pollution while defying orders of Odisha State Pollution Control Board and Union Forest and Environment Ministry. Action should have taken against the company under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Odisha Forest Act-1972 and Mines and Minerals Act. But instead , the company got extension to run its closed mines, they demanded.
Company which operating without valid consent to operate should have been issued closure directions or will be prosecuted as per the provisions in Water (PCP) Act, 1974 and Air(PCP) Act, 1981.While granting “consent to operate”, it will be ensured that the proponent has obtained all other statutory clearances under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.The Company has no respect to labour laws, they said.
